Geranium plant named ‘Oglger579’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Regal  Geranium  plant named ‘Oglger579’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and large pink and red purple bi-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×domesticum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘OGLGER579’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Regal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×domesticum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Oglger579’.

The new Regal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lompoc, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new medium-sized and early and freely flowering Regal Geranium cultivars with large and attractive flowers.

The new Regal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 1998 in Lompoc, Calif. of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 269, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 101, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Regal Geranium was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Connellsville, Pa. in February, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Regal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Connellsville, Pa. since March, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Regal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Regal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Oglger579’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Oglger579’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Regal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large pink and red purple bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Regal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flowering time as plants of the new Regal Geranium flower earlier than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Regal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Regal Geranium are not as vigorous as         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Regal Geranium have larger flowers than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Regal Geranium and the male parent         selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent         selection have lavender-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Regal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium×domesticum ‘Bravo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,522. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Regal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Bravo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Regal Geranium were more vigorous than         plants of ‘Bravo’.     -   2. Plants of the new Regal Geranium and ‘Bravo’ differed in         flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Regal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Regal Geranium plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Oglger579’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Oglger579’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Encinitas, Calif. in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse during the spring and under conditions which closely approximate Regal Geranium commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 10° C. and light levels averaged 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were 27 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×domesticum ‘Oglger579’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 269, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×domesticum identified as code number 101, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 35 days at             temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 40 days at             temperatures of 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 70 days             at temperatures of 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 80 days             at temperatures of 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth             habit; freely branching habit; about 16 primary lateral             branches develop per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 34 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 23 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 35 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Internode length: About 2.6 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 8.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 9.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Palmately lobed.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Bi-serrate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate, reticulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Nearly round flowers arranged in             hemispherical and somewhat loose umbels arising from apical             leaf axils; umbels displayed above and beyond the foliage on             strong peduncles; flowers face upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, sweet.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about five to             six open flowers per umbel; about 26 umbels per plant at one             time.         -   Flowering season.—In California, flowering is continuous             during the spring and summer.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 6.8 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm to 9.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6.8 cm by 7.2 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Elliptical. Color: Close to 62D.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Six, occasionally seven, in a             single whorl. Length: About 4.3 cm to 4.6 cm. Width: About             2.3 cm to 4.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire, sinuate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening,             upper petals, upper and lower surfaces: Towards the margins,             close to 69D; towards the center, close to 58B; centers,             close to N77A; base, close to NN155D. When opening, lateral             and lower petals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 69B;             venation, close to 60B. Fully opened, upper petals, upper             surface: Towards the margins, close to 69D; towards the             center, close to N57B; centers, close to N77A; base, close             to NN155D; venation, close to 59B. Fully opened, lateral and             lower petals, upper surface: Close to 69B; venation, close             to 60B. Fully opened, upper petals, lower surface: Towards             the margins, close to NN155D; towards the center, close to             69D and 60C; centers, close to N77A; base, close to NN155D.             Fully opened, lateral and lower petals, lower surface: Close             to NN155D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Six, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 2.1 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape:             Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to             146A to 146B.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 4.8 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to             146B.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.6 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About ten. Anther size: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong,             narrow. Anther color: Close to 59C. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to N34A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.3 cm. Stigma shape:             Split into six or seven parts, star-shaped. Stigma color:             Close to 59A. Style length: About 1.2 cm. Style color: Close             to 59D. Ovary color: Close to 138B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Regal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Regal     Geraniums. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Regal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about     35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Regal Geranium plant named ‘Oglger579’ as illustrated and described. 